Electric fire-alarm and fire-extinguisher system



6 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

O. E. BUELL.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND FIRE E-XTINGUISHER SYSTEM. N0.'294.008.

Patented Feb INVENTOR.

N, PETERS Phawunm n mr. Waslnngkm. 0.1;

6 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. E. BUELL. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

INVENTUR.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. PholvLilhogmphcr. Wnshingwm 0.1:.

(No Model.)

0. E: BUBLL.

6 SheetsS11eet 3- WITNESSES N PETEns Hmwmmwmr. Waillingion. 1C.

Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

INVENTOR.

(No Model.) 7 Y 6 Sheets-Shest 4.

0. E. BUELL. I ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

N0. 294,008. Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

BN5 b) ll Into,

m' I "N. N \LII uif m; Mi r"? WITNESSES: INVENTOR. AM @4264 W (NoModel.) 6 Sheets-She'et, 5.

O. E. BUELL.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

No. 294,008. Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

(No Model.) 6'SheetsSheet 6.

, O.E.BUELL. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AN D FIRE EXTINGIIISHER SYSTEM; No.294,008. PatentedFeb. 26, 18.84.

INYENTOR. 04w MM WITNESSES trolled by armature a of relay C, saidcall-bell anism of the signaling-box B. Wis a wheel alarm circuit orcircuits open, as hereinafter CHARLES E. BUELL, OF NEWV HAVEN,CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARM AND FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,008, dated February26, 1884:,

Application filed December 22, 1883. (No model.)

.To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Onnnrns E. BUELL, of the city and county of NewHaven, State of Connecticut, have invented Improvements in ElectricalFire-Alarms and their Combined Use with Fire-Extinguishers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists, primarily, in the combination, with one or morealarm-circuits adapted to open by heat, of alarm apparatus adapted to bemade operative when said circuit or circuits open, and an independentcircuit and means adapted to transmit a definite signal thereon to aremote station when said described.

My invention further consists in certain combinations andsub-combinations, which will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents my invention. Fig. 2 represents a detailed view ofone of the elements of my invention. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 show myinvention. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 show detailed parts of myinvention.

Referring to Fig. 1, C is a relay electromagnet; G, a galvanometer, andBis a signaling box of well-known construction included in thealarm-circuit of battery X, said circuit consisting of a wire thatincludes soldered return-circuit at g and k. A switch, 8, is alsoincluded in the circuit, for opening said circuit when making tests toascertain the condition of the circuit in connection with the use of thegalvanometer G. D is a call-bell in the normally-open circuit ofbatteryY, and is conbeing made operative to produce an alarm when thearmature a is retracted to its back contact-stop, 2'. ff represent anindependent circuit leading to a remote station, and adapted to be madeoperativeby the signaling mechanism B when said signaling mechanism isset in motion by the opening of one of the soldered joints beforementioned.

Fig. 2 represents the circuit-breaking mechadapted to "be revolved byclock-work in a wellknown manner, said clock-work being normally woundup, or partlyso, and held from running down by the armature of anclectro-magnet interlocking with its parts in a well-known way. Thewheel \V is provided with projections 11 1), adapted tolift the spring Sfrom the contact C as it revolves, thus breaking the circuit f f. Byarranging the projections at longer or shorter intervals on theperiphery of the wheel V, a definite number-signal will be produced asthe wheel rotates.

Fig. 3 represents a circuit, as shown in Fig. 1 and described, with thedifference, however, that the signaling mechanism B is included in thenormally-open circuit of the battery y, thereby gaining some advantageswhich are obvious.

Fig, 4e represents two alarm-circuits charged from battery X, saidcircuits being, like that shown in Fig. 1, composed of lengths of wirenot easily fused, held in electrical continuity by easily-fused joints,and included therein, respectively, are the relay electromagnets C andC, galvanometer G and G, and switches s and s. The signalingmechanismBis placed in the normally-open circuit of battery 11 to getherwith the call-bell D and an annunciator, A, of a well-knownconstruction. The circuit. of battery 3/ being divided through theannunciator A, in a well'known manner,

when either of said alarm-circuits becomes of battery y, when necessary,to inspect and go circuit of battery making operative the bell D andsignal-box B. Galvanometer G G and switches s s are used in connectionwith this modified form of circuit.

Fig. 6 represents battery X charging circuits Z Z, said circuits beingheld in electrical continuity by contactsprings c and c, said contactsprings being held normally closed for the passage of the current byattachments therefrom to the moving parts of a sprinkler used for fireextinguishing purposes, and so arranged, in connection with thesprinklers to which they are connected, that by the opening of thesprinklers, or either of them, whether by heat, by accident, or bydesign, the circuit connected to said contacts will be ruptured and analarm be soun ded. These contacts may be insulated upon the sprinkleritself, or upon the ceiling of the building that is to be protected, orin any desirable manner. There is shown the fine wire 6, connected fromcontact 0 to lever T of the sprinkler, and insulated from said lever,and provided with a joint of solder which will become melted slightly inadvance of the opening of the sprinkler, which is also adapted to openby heat. In the circuit Z Z, I have shown the relay electroanagnet O andan independent electro-magnet, E, adapted to control a mechanism forturning on a water-supply to the pipe P, which supplies the sprinklersHHH. One electro-magnet may be arranged to act to close the circuit ofbattery I/ and control mechanism for turning on a water-supply; but'theuse of separate magnets, as shown, is pre ferred. The annunciator A,call-bell D, signaling mechanism B, and independent circuit f f areshown in connection with the circuit Z Z, as in previous figures thathave been described.

Fig. 7 shows the conducting-pipe P, sprinklers H H H, circuit V \V WV,electro-magnets O and C", galvanometer G, switches s s, and aresistance,(Z, at the point of the circuit. The electrical connections of thecircuit \V are con trolled by the sprinklers II H II, in a similarmanner to that already described. The electrical connections of thecircuit are preferably constructed,as showninFigs. 8,9, 10,0fa block,It, of hard rubber, having the binding-screws s 5 running therein, to'whichthe wire \V \V is attached, the block R and screws 8 8 beingarranged in relation to each other, so that the screws do not come incontact with each other. The spring h is secured to the block R, and isnormally held depressed by the lever T ofthe sprinkler, in such a manneras to make contact with the screws 8 s and complete the cir cuit. Vhenthe lever T is released by the opening of the sprinkler, or when thewire 6 is ruptured by heat, the spring 71. retracts and opens thecircuit, sounding an alarm. A piece of metal, j, is shown soldered tothe sixsquare of the sprinkler, and is in such relation to the spring itthat if the sprinkler becomes open without the action of heat the springIt will come in contact with thepiece j before opening the circuit, thusshort-circuiting the battery X over the pipe P, the spring h andsprinkler serving for a shunt and sounding an alarm, and dropping thenumber of the annunciator by th e attraction of armature c of relay 0,which in this case is adjusted to be normally retracted, the force uponthe circuit through the relay 0 being increased, when the spring h comesin contact with the piece j, by the cut ting out of the resistance d,the terminal k and the terminal of circuit from battery X beingconnected to the pipe]? as a return-cin cnit, or by a wire from itsreturn-circuit to the pipe P, between the resistances d and g, in anobvious manner. The piece of rubber R, as

shown, is attached to the sprinkler H by means of a dovetailed part uponboth the sprinkler and the hard-rubber block. The electro-magnet 0 isshown as having its armature A, ad justed to be attracted with theresistance (1, included in the circuit, and its armature adapted'tocontrol a water-supply mechanism, and also to act as a relay for makingoperative the call-box B. when the circuit has become ruptured. By thisarrangement of electromagnets, resistance, and short-circuiting devices,an alarm will be given when the circuit be comes out of order withoutthe action of heat, while an alarm will be given anda signal sent to aremote station and the water supply turned on to supply the sprinklersif the circuit becomes open by the action of heat.

Instead of accomplishing the giving of an alarm by short-circuitingbattery X when the sprinkler becomes open without heat, I may close areverse battery through circuit IV for producing such an alarm bysubstituting elec tro-magnets with polarized armatures for the neutralelectro-magnets shown.

What I claim is 1. The combination,with two or more alarmcircuits thatare adapted to open by heat, of alarm apparatus adapted to be madeoperative when either of said circuits opens, and an independent circuitand means common to the several alarm-circuitsadapted to transmit adefinite alarm-signal thereon to a remote station when either of saidalarm-circuitsopens.

2. The combination,with two or more alarmcircuits'that are adapted toopen by heat, of alarm apparatus adapted to be made operative wheneither of said circuits opens, and a galvanometer in each circuit fordetermining the cause of accidental alarms and 'for showing thecondition of the circuits.

3. The combination, with two or more normall y-closed alarm-circuitsadapted to open'loy heat, of an alarm apparatus common to the severalcircuits and adapted to sound an alarm by the opening of either, and anannunciator controlled by said circuits to indicate the opening of theseveral circuits, or either of them, and means common to the severalcircuits for transmitting a definite alarm-signal to a remote station.

4. The combination,with two or more alarmcircuits adapted to open byheat, of an alarm apparatus adapted to sound an alarm when eithercircuit opens, an annunciator controlled by said circuits to indicatethe opening of said circuits, or either of them, and a galvanometer ineach circuit to indicate the condition of said circuits, substantiallyas described.

5. The combination,with two or more alarmcircuits adapted to open byheat, of alarm apparatus adapted to sound an alarm when either of saidcircuits opens, an annunciator adapted to indicate the opening of saidcircuits, or either of them, and an independent circuit, and meanscommon to the several circuits adapted to transmit a definitenumbersignal thereon to a remote station when either of said circuitsopen.

6. The combination,with two or more alarmcircuits adapted to open byheat, of an alarm apparatus adapted to be made operative by the openingof either of said circuits, and an annunciator adapted to indicate theopening of either of said circuits, a galvanometer in each of saidcircuits for denoting the condition of said circuits, and anormally-closed independent circuit, and mechanism common to the severalcircuits adapted to transmita definite number-signal over saidindependent circuit when either of said alarm-circuits opens.

7. The combination, with a series of alarmcireuits adapted to open byheat, of the alarm apparatus D, the annunciator A, the circuit f f,signaling mechanism B, the galvanometers G G, and switches s s, thewhole arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the sprinkler H, of a spring insulated thereonand held to close an electric circuit by the parts T and L of saidsprinkler when those parts are in the position of normally closed, andin a manner to allow said spring to retract and make operative saidcircuit when the said parts T and L, or either, become displaced fromthe position of closed.

9. The combination, with the distributing part of a sprinkler, of acircuit-closing key insulated thereon and held to close an electriccircuit by the interlocking parts T and L, or either of them, in amanner to allow said spring to retract when said parts, or either,become displaced from their normallyclosed position, to make operativesaid electric circuit.

10. A series of sprinklers, each provided with a circuit-closing springthat is insulated therefrom and adapted to close a circuit common to theseries when the moving parts of the sprinkler are in their normalposition, for excluding water, and the said spring in such relation tothe fusible devices of the sprinkler as to accelerate their movementwhen released by heat.

11. The combination, with a sprinkler that is adapted to bemadeoperative by the action of heat upon a fusible substance, of electricalcircuit-connections insulated thereon and portable therewith, andadapted to make operative an electric circuit when said sprinklerbecomes open by heat or its moving parts displaced by accident.

12. The combination, with asprinkler that is adapted to be madeoperative by the action of heat upon a fusible substance, ofcircuitconnections insulated thereon and held to close an electriccircuit when the said sprinkler is closed to exclude water, and saidcircuit-connections adapted to become operative when said sprinkler isin a position the reverse from pendent and its moving parts becomereleased.

13. The combination, with an alarm-circuit composed in part of awater-conducting pipe, of means for short circuiting the batterycharging said circuit by the opeuing or partial opening of a sprinkler.

14. The combination,with battery X, of the pipe P,-sp rink1ers H H H,with V W, resistance, and means for shunting said resist ance by thepartial opening or opening of the sprinklers, or either of them, toproduce an alarm. i

15. The combination,with a series of alarmcircuits that are normallycharged, and composed of lengths of wire not easily fused,held inelectrical continuity by easily-fused joints, of an alarm apparatuscommon to the series of circuits, adapted to sound an alarm when eitherof said circuits opens, and means to in+ dicate which of the severalcircuits has opened.

16. The combination,witha series of alarmcircuits that are normallycharged, and are composed of lengths of wire not easily fused, held inelectrical continuity by easilyfused joints, and provided with alarmapparatus common to the several circuits, adapted to sound an alarm wheneither of said circuits opens,of a normally-closed independent circuitand a call mechanism adapted to transmit a definite call-signal to aremote station when either of said alarm-circuits opens, substantiallyas described.

17. The combination,witha series of alarmcircuits that are normallycharged, and are composed of lengths of wire not easily fused, held inelectrical continuity by easily-fused joints, and provided with alarmapparatus adapted to sound an alarm when either of said vices adapted toproduce an alarm at a remotestation when either of said alarm-circuitsbe comes open.

4 aeaooe 19. The combination,with a series of alarmcircuits that arenormally charged, and are composed of lengths of wire not easily fusedheld in electrical continuity by easily-fused joints, and provided withA alarm apparatus common to the several circuits, adapted to give analarm when either of said circuits opens, of independent devices in eachof said circuits adapted to indicate the condition of said circuits,substantially as described.

20. The combination,with a series of alarmcircuits that-are normallycharged, and are I composed of lengths of wire not easily fused,

held in electrical continuity by easily-fused joints, of alarm apparatusin a local or sub circuit adapted to be made operative to give an alarmwhen either of the said normally-closed alarm-circuits becomesopen,whereby said normally-closed circuits may be short-circuited or theforce charging said circuits be augmented without making operative saidalarm.

21. The combinatiomwith a series of alarmcircuits that arenormallycharged, and are composed of lengths of wire not easily fused,held in electrical continuity by easily-fused joints, and provided withalarm apparatus adapted to give an alarm when eitherof said circuitsbecomes open, of a local circuit that is normally open, and a callmechanism, and means controlled by said local circuit and adapted totransmit a signal to a remote station when the said local circuit isclosed by the opening of either of said alarm-circuits, and devices inthe said alarm-circuits for closingthe saidlocal circuit when either ofsaid alarm-circuits opens.

22. The combinatiomwith a series of alarmcircuits that are normallycharged, and are composed of lengths of wire not easily fused, held inelectrical continuity by easily-fused joints, of an alarm apparatusadapted to sound an alarm when either of said circuits opens, and anannunciator adapted to be made operative by the closing of a localcircuit when either of said alarm-circuits opens, to indicate which ofsaid alarm-circuits has opened,with devices for each alarm-circuitadapted to close said open circuit through its respective drop of saidannunciator when it becomes opened, the whole

